The office of Judge Sergio Moro and police officials said on Wednesday that former Congressman Eduardo Cunha, accused of pocketing millions of dollars in bribes from contractors with the oil company Petrobras, has been arrested.

"We can confirm that [Cunha] was detained in Brasilia," a police spokesman told AFP news agency.

He was arrested on an order issued by Judge Sergio Moro, who has led the nationwide investigation into the corruption scandal.

Moro ordered Cunha's detention, citing risks to "public order, as well as a concrete possibility of flight given his access to hidden resources abroad, as well as double nationality", said the justice department for Parana state, where Moro's operation is headquartered in the city of Curitiba.

Cunha, 58, denied all charges.

Brazil: Cunha accused of using Swiss accounts to launder money and $40m in bribes while president of lower house of congress. He denies